Poppy Appeal launched by the Bovington Military Wives Choir as they steam into Corfe Castle
The county Poppy Appeal got under way yesterday with a steam train delivering members of the Bovington Military Wives Choir to Corfe Castle.
The launch, at Corfe Castle Railway Station, also saw troops attend with military vehicles from Bovington Camp, ‘poppified’ promotional cars from Mercedes and Smart and the launch of Ford Farms Poppy Cheddar Cheese.
The remembrance-themed dairy product raised more than £8,500 for the charity last year.
Organiser and legion co-ordinator for Dorset Ian Jarvis said: “We had the Military Wives Choir and 11 schoolchildren come from Swanage, and they alighted from the steam train in Corfe Castle.
“They sold the first poppies of the year in Dorset to our chairman and president.
“It is important to try and pass down the message of remembrance to the younger generation so they understand.
“People assume it is all about the First World War and the Second World War, but we are now looking after a new generation of veterans who require our assistance.”
With plenty of demand for the legion’s services, Mr Jarvis said it was more important than ever that people think about donating at more than one time in the year.
“We spend £1.7 million per week on our beneficiaries.
Last year we raised £47m through the poppy appeal which was only about half of what was required,” he said.
“Ideally we want to get people involved in other ways of fundraising.
“There is a lot going on in Dorset, including the Festival of Remembrance in Weymouth this Sunday.”
The Festival of Remembrance takes place at Weymouth Pavilion following the success of last year’s event.